Control switch



Oct. 23, 1962 Filed March 14, 1961 &

w. J. STEIIINBRUNER 3,060,285

CONTROL SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

lz/ifliam J Szeinbruner 1225.4 ORA/l5)" Oct. 23, 1962 W. J- STEINBRUNER CONTROL SWITCH Filed March 14, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet. 3

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IN V EN TOR.

11/172132); L/. Szainbrker HIS ATTORNEY ilnited States Patent 3,060,285 Patented Oct. 23,, 1962 Fire 3,666,285 CONTROL SWITCH William J. Steinbruner, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 95,535 Claims. (Cl. 20ti16) This invention relates to a control switch adapted to set up an electric energizing circuit for an electric solenoid and then establish a holding circuit for the electric solenoid, which holding circuit can be broken either by operation of the control switch or by operation of an independently actuate-d electric switch.

An object of the invention is to provide a push button type control switch that is provided with contact members arranged in a manner that movement of the push button of the control switch in an inward direction will effect establishment of an energizing circuit for an electrically operated component, such as an electric solenoid, and release of the push button of the control switch will set up a holding circuit for the electrically operated component and reestablish the contact arrangement of the control switch in positions that a second movement of the push button of the control switch will first break the holding circuit to the electrically operated component to effect release of the component and then re-establish the energizing circuit for the electrically operated component that it can take a new or ditferent position from that assumed previously, the control switch again re-establishing the holding circuit upon release of the push button control of the switch. The control switch is also constructed and arranged in a manner that once the holding circuit has been established for the el ctrically operated component, inward movement of the push button control of the control switch will effect a breaking of the holding circuit without re-establishing the holding circuit, when such manual ope-ration should be desired.

The control switch of this invention is particularly useful in operating a throttle control apparatus for an internal combustion engine so as to position the throttle in any desired open position and retain the same in that position until released by the operator of the vehicle, the throttle control being adapted to be reset by movement of the push button control switch of this invention in the event the operator of the vehicle desires to change the speed of the vehicle at any time. Thus, the operator of the vehicle can reset the throttle to any desired open position merely by operating the push button control switch of this invention.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a composite cross-sectional view of the control switch of this invention in which the two cross sections are taken at right angles to one another, AA and B-B of FIG. 6, to illustrate the full electrical circuit through the control switch.

FIG. 2 is a composite cross-sectional view of the control switch comparable to that shown in FIG. 1 but with the control switch moved from an initial normal off position shown in FIG. 1 to a second position in which circuit is made through two contact circuit arrangements of the control switch.

FIG. 3 is a composite cross-sectional view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating the control switch in a third position wherein the electric circuit is still maintained through both contact arrangements of the control switch but wherein slight additional retraction movement of the push button will effect breaking of one of the circuits while maintaining the other of the circuits through the control switch.

FIG. 4 is another composite cross-sectional view similar to the previous figures but wherein the control switch is shown in a fourth position wherein electric circuit is broken through both sets of circuit contacts provided in the control switch.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a throttle control system in which the switch of this invention is useful.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 1 showing the relative positions of the two sets of contacts of the control switch.

In this invention the control switch consists of a body 10 having an axial bore 11 at one end thereof and a reduced axial bore 12 that forms a shoulder 13 against which an insulating disc 14 is positioned. The body 10 also has an axial bore 27 at the opposite end thereof.

The switch actuating member 15 has a cylindrical push button member 16 fitting in the axial bore 27 and slidable therein as is apparent from the other figures.

The two parts A and B of FIG. 1, as well as the two parts A and B of the respective FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, are cross sections of the same control switch taken on planes A-A and B-B of FIG. 6 with the one part taken at a angle relative to the other part so that both sets of contacts hereinafter described can be shown. The radial relative positions of the respective contacts are more particularly shown in FIG. 6.

The actuator 15 includes a reduced diameter portion 17 as well as a reduced diameter portion 18, that is separated by a collar 19 formed as an integral part of the actuator 15.

A first compression spring 20 is placed within the axial bore 11 between the disc 14 and a closure cover member 21 at the end of the bore 11 to confine the spring 20 therein. A second compression spring 22 is positioned within the axial bore 12 and has one end engaging the disc 14 and the opposite end received in an axial bore 23 in the reduced diameter portion 18 of the actuating member 15. Thus, the two springs 20 and 22 urge the actuating member 15 to the position shown in FIG. 1 with the stop collar 24 positioned against the body portion 25 of the body member 10.

The reduced diameter portion 18 of the actuating member has a metallic sleeve member 26 fixedly received on the reduced dliameter portion 18 with one end positioned against the collar 19. This metal sleeve 26 forms a first contact member that is engaged by a first pair of leaf spring contact members 30 and 31, as shown in FIG. 1. These contact members 30 and 31 are fixedly secured to the body member 10 by means of screws 32. Thus, as shown in the upper portion of FIG. 1, the contact members 3t} and 31 engaging the metal sleeve contact 26 provides a continuous electric circnuit connection between the two contact members 30 and 31.

A second contact member 35 is slidably positioned on the reduced diameter portion 17 of the actuator 15 for axial movement between the stop member 24 and the collar 13 on the reduced diameter portion 17. This second contact member 35 comprises a metal sleeve electric conducting portion 36 and an insulating sleeve portion 3 7 that are secured together in any suitable manner to make an integral contact member. The metal sleeve portion 36 of the second contact member 35 has the V- shaped peripheral groove 38 therein adapted to receive the V-shaped free ends 39 of the second pair of contact members 40 and 41 that are also suitably secured to the body member by means of screws 42. The engagement of the contact members 40 and 41 with the peripheral groove 38 is more particularly shown in the bottom portion of FIG. 2.

The insulating portion 37 of the second contact member has a ramp portion 43 adapted to be engaged by the contact members and 41 as more particularly shown in the bottom portion of FIGURES 1 and 4. The ramp portion 43 provides for movement of the contacts from the position shown in the lower part of FIG. 1 to the position shown in the lower part of FIG. 2. The electric insulating portion 37 of the contact member 35 also carries narrow contact members or means 45 and 46 that are electrically connected by a pin 17 that also secures the contact means 45 and 46 to the electrical insulating sleeve portion 37. However, the electrical contact members 45 and 46 are electrically insulated from the contact sleeve portion 36 of the contact member 35 by the electric insulating sleeve 37. The connecting pin 47 extends through a slot 50 provided in the reduced diameter portion '17, as shown in the upper figures of FIGURES l and 2 to allow axial movement of the contact member 35 toward and away from the collar 19 so that the contact member 35 can assume a position such as that shown in the upper and lower portions of HG. 3. A pin 59 prevents rotation of the actuator 15 and thereby maintains radial alignment of the several contacts of the switch.

The control switch of this invention is adapted to establish an energizing circuit for an electrically operated component by which the component is energized when the switch is first operated and then a holding circuit is established by the control switch which will maintain the electrically operated component energized even though the initial energizing circuit is broken. Also, the control switch is constructed and arranged in a manner that actuation of the control switch through a part of its stroke of movement will effect a break in the holding circuit for the electrically operated component and thereby de-energize the same. Such a control switch is particularly useful in holding the throttle valve of a carbuertor for an internal combustion engine in any desired open position so as to maintain operation of the internal combustion engine under one continuous setting of the throttle. Since most of the present day vehicles are no longer equipped with a manual throttle control for feeding fuel to the internal combustion engine of the vehicle, the operator of the vehicle must maintain his foot on the accelerator pedal. However, there are occasions, particularly on turnpike driving, when it is desirable for the operator to be able to set the throttle for the internal combustion engine at any particular setting and then free the accelerator pedal foot so as to give the operator a rest.

One such schematic showing of a throttle control is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 wherein the carburetor 60 for the internal combustion engine has a lever 61 that operates the throttle control valve in the carburetor. The lever 61 is connected by means of a link 62 with a lever 63 pivoted at 64 so that the link 65 that is connected with the accelerator pedal 66 will cause movement of the lever 61 in a clockwise direction to open the throttle of the carburetor on movement of the accelerator pedal 66. A return spring 67 is provided on the lever 61. This normal linkage setup for the carburetor of a motor vehicle can also be controlled by an electrically operated throttle setting device 70, shown in FIG. 1. This device 70 consists of a frame 71 carrying an electric solenoid 72. A pulley 73 is carried on the shaft 74 which in turn is journalled in an electrical insulating sleeve 75. One end of a torsion spring 76 is attached to the shaft 74, as at 77,

and the opposite end of the torsion spring engages a protrusion 7t; on the sleeve 75. Thus, the torsion spring 76 tends to rotate the pulley 73 in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 5, to effect opening of the throttle of the carburetor. However, the retraction spring 67 normally overcomes the effect of the torsion spring 76 so that the throttle valve of the carburetor is controlled under normal circumstances by movement of the acceleratcr pedal 66.

it will be obvious that whenever the accelerator pedal 66 is rotated in a clockwise direction that movement of the lower end of the lever 63 will allow the pulley 73 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction under action of the torsion spring 76 so that the flexible cable Si) that is positioned between the lever 63 and the pulley 73 will be wrapped upon the pulley 73 and maintained in a taut condition.

Normally, a compression spring 81 retains the pulley 73 out of engagement with the frame 71 of the solenoid but when the solenoid 72 is energized, the pulley 73 is pulled against the frame 71 to eifect a locking of the pulley 73 against rotation. Under this circumstance, after the operator of the vehicle has moved the accelerator pedal 66 downwardly and the solenoid 72 is energized, the throttle setting control 769 will take over to prevent return movement of the accelerator pedal and thereby hold the throttle valve of the carburetor in a pre-set open position. Whenever the solenoid 72 of the throttle control 7t) is de-energized, the return spring 67 will overcome the effect of the spring '76 and thereby allow the throttle control valve of the carburetor to return to a closed position.

T 0 effect operation of the throttle control device 70 to accomplish the foregoing effect, it is first necessary to energize the electric solenoid 72 and at the same time establish a holding circuit which will retain the solenoid 72 energized even after the control switch has been released by the operator of the vehicle. It is also necessary that the holding circuit that is established by the control switch shall be broken by movement of the control switch so that the throttle valve of the carburetor can return to a normally closed position.

As shown in FIG. 1, the battery of the vehicle is connected through a normally open ignition switch 91 and then through a normally closed brake operated switch 92 with the contact member 30. The switch 92 will be closed whenever the brakes are in released or retracted position. Contact member 31 is connected by means of the conductor 93 with one end of the electric solenoid 72, the opposite end of the electric solenoid being connected with one end of the torsion spring 76 so as to include thereby the shaft 74 and the pulley wheel 73 in electric circuit in a manner hereinafter described. A branch conductor 94 extends from the end of the torsion spring 76 to the contact member 41, contact member 40 being connected with ground by means of a conductor 95.

From the electric circuit described and illustrated in FIG. 1, it will therefore be apparent that so long as the electric control switch is not actuated, and the switches 91 and 92 are closed, there will be no energization of the throttle control device 70, or its solenoid 72, which will in any way affect locking of the throttle control valve of the carburetor in any open position.

However, when the operator of the vehicle desires to effect a setting of the throttle control 70, the actuator 15 of the control switch will be moved from the position shown in 'FiG. l to the position shown in FIG. 2. Under this condition, it will be apparent that circuit will be made through contacts 30 and 31 and their respective conductors with the solenoid 72 of the throttle control 7 it. Also, electric circuit will be made through conductor 94- and now through contacts 40 and 41 with the ground side of the circuit so that there is provided energization of the solenoid 72. This is the energizing circuit for the energization of solenoid 72, that is when circuit is made through contacts 40 and 41.

When the operator of the vehicle releases the actuator 15, the actuator will move in a left-hand direction from a position shown in FIG. 2 to a position shown in FIG. 3 wherein it will be noted that contacts 30 and 31 are still in engagement with contact elements 45 and 46, the same as shown in FIG. 2, but also the contacts 30 and 31 are now in engagement with the contact ring 26 concurrently so that circuit is made through both sets of contacts at the moment when the actuator is in the specific position shown in FIG. 3 in its movement in a left-hand direction. Also, it will be noted that circuit is still continued to be made through contacts 40 and 41 so that the energizing circuit through contacts 40 and 41 is continued to be maintained While the contacts 30 and 31 are moving from the contact members 45 and 46 into engagement with the contact ring 26.

Slight additional movement of the actuator 15 in a left-hand direction will then move the contact members 30 and 31 into full engagement with the contact ring 26 and disengage the contact members 45 and 46. Also, the contact members 40 and 41 will then engage the insulating member 37 so that circuit through contacts 40 and 41 will be broken through the conductor 94. However, the holding circuit for the electric solenoid, now that it has once been energized by the setting circuit through the contacts 40 and 41, will maintain the solenoid energized through the contact circuit made by contacts 30 and 31 through the contact ring 26.

Energization of the solenoid 72 pulls the pulley member 73 against the frame 71 so it will no longer rotate when the throttle pedal 66 is released and thereby hold the throttle valve of the carburetor in a pre-set open position.

Any time the brake of the vehicle is actuated, switch 92 will open and break the holding circuit that has just been described so as to release the throttle control device 70 from its hold on the throttle control valve of the carburetor.

However, the operator of the vehicle can also manually release the throttle control by moving the control switch to the position shown in FIG. 4 wherein it will be noted that contacts 30 and 31 now ride on the insulating collar 19 and contact members 40 and 41 ride on the insulating collar 37, thereby breaking the holding circuit that had been established when moving the control switch from position 1 to position 2 and thence through position 3 to return it to the position shown in FIG. 1. In the FIG. 4 position, the right-hand end of the reduced diameter portion 18 engages the disc 14 held in position by spring 249. The engagement of the disc by portion 18 and the increase force effect to pick up spring 20 will indicate the FIG. 4 position of the switch to the operator. It will be noted that the control switch moves directly from the position in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 4 before it reaches the position shown in FIG. 2 so that the holding circuit that was made at any previous actuation of the control switch will be broken so that the operator can reset the throttle hold device 70, the throttle control being released during the time the switch is moving from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 4 and thence to the position shown in FIG. 2, the torsion spring 76 taking up any slack in the cable 8t} and thereby re-establish the effectiveness of the throttle control device 70' in holding the pulling 73 against the frame 71 when a new energization of the solenoid 72 is effected by the time the switch moves to the position shown in FIG. 2 after it has passed through the position shown in FIG. 4. Of course, the control switch, upon release of the actuator by the operator of the vehicle, will then pass through the position shown in 'FIG. 3 back to the position shown in FIG. 1 to maintain a throttle control device in its pre-set position.

Any time the operator desires to override the throttle control, for example, when passing a vehicle, the accelerator 66 can be moved downwardly to open the throttle control valve of the carburetor more fully. When this occurs, the cable will go slack, but upon release of the accelerator pedal 66, the throttle control valve of the carburetor will return again to its pre-set position.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted,

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a control switch, a body member, a longitudinally extending actuating member sl-idable in the body member, a first contact member fixedly positioned on said actuating member, a first pair of contact members fixedly positioned on said body member and engaging said first contact member to make electric circuit therethrough, a second contact member slidably positioned on said actuating member and movable relative to said first contact member, said second contact member including an electric conducting portion and an electric insulating portion, said electric insulating portion being positioned between said electric conducting portion and said first contact member and including contact means thereon electrically insulated from said conducting portion, a secand pair of contact members fixedly positioned on said body member and engageable with the respective portions of said second contact member, said actuating member having a first position in said body with said first pair of contact members engaging said first contact member and said second pair of contact members engaging said electric insulating portion of said second contact member and having a second position with said first pair of contact members engaging said contact means on said second contact member and said second pair of contact members engaging said electric conducting portion of said second contact member.

2. In a control switch, a body member, a longitudinally extending actuating member slidable in the body member, a first contact member fixedly positioned on said actuating member, a first pair of contact members fixedly positioned on said body member and engaging said first contact member to make electric circuit therethrough, a second contact member slidably positioned on said actuating member and movable relative to said first contact member, said second contact member including an elec tric conducting portion and an electric insulating portion, said electric insulating portion being positioned between said electric conducting portion and said first contact member and including contact means thereon electrically insulated from said conducting portion, a second pair of contact members fixedly positioned on said body member and engageable with the respective portions of said second contact member, said actuating member having a first position in said body with said first pair of contact members engaging said first contact member and said second pair of contact members engaging said electric insulating portion of said second contact member and having a second position with said first pair of contact members engaging said contact means on said second contact member and said second pair of contact members engaging said electric conducting portion of said second contact member and having a third position with said first pair of contact members engaging said first contact member and said contact means on said second contact member and said second pair of cont-act members engaging said electric conducting portion of said second contact member.

3. In a control switch, a body member, a longitudinally extending actuating member slidable in the body member, a first contact member fixedly positioned on said actuating member, a first pair of contact members fixedly positioned on said body member and engaging said first contact member to make electric circuit therethrough, a second contact member slidably positioned on said actuating member and movable relative to said first contact member, said second contact member including an electric conducting portion and an electric insulating portion,

a scess said electric insulating portion being positioned between said electric conducting portion and said first contact member and including contact means thereon electrically insulated from said conducting portion, a second pair of contact members fixedly positioned on said body member and engageable with the respective portions of said second contact member, said actuating member having an electric insulating collar fixed therewith between said first contact member and said second contact member, said contact means on said second contact member extending across said collar when said second contact member en gages said collar, said actuating member having a first postion in said body with said first pair of contact members engaging said first contact member and said second pair of contact members engaging said electric insulating portion of said second contact member and having a second position with said first pair of contact members engaging said contact means on said second contact member and said second pair of contact members engaging said electric conducting portion of said second contact member and having a third position with said first pair of contact members engaging said first contact member and said contact means on said second cont-act member and said second pair of contact members engaging said electric conducting portion of said second contact member, with said second contact member engaging said collar.

4. In a control switch, a body member, a longitudinally extending actuating member slidable in the body member, a first contact member fixedly positioned on said actuating member, a first pair of contact members fixedly positioned on said body member and engaging said first contact member to make electric circuit therethrough, 'a second contact member slidably positioned on said actuating member and movable relative to said first contact member, said second contact member including an electrio conducting portion and an electric insulating portion, said electric insulating portion being positioned between said electric insulating portion =and said first contact member and including contact means thereon electrically insulated from said conducting portion, a second pair of contact members fixedly positioned on said body member and engageable with the respective portions of said second contact member, said actuating member having an electric insulating collar fixed therewith between said first contact member and said second cont-act member, said contact means on said second contact member extending across said collar when said second contact member engages said collar, said actuating member having a first position in said body with said first pair of contact members engaging said first contact member and said second pair of contact members engaging said electric insulating portion of said second contact member and having a second position with said finst pair of contact members engaging said contact means on said second contact member and said second pair of contact members engaging said electric conducting portion of said second contact member and having a third position with said first pair of contact members engaging said first contact member and said contact means on said second contact member and said second pair of contact members engaging said electric conducting portion of said second contact member, with said second contact member engaging said collar, and having a fourth position with said first pair of contact members engaging said collar and said second pair of contact members engaging said electric insulating portion of said second contact member.

5. A control switch constructed and arranged in accordance with the structure set forth in claim 2 in which said second pair of contact members comprise spring means to move said second contact member relative to said first contact member to eifect thereby switch position change from the said third position to the said first position.

6. A control switch constructed in accordance with claim 4 in which first and second spring means in series effect arrangement urge said actuating member to said first position and one of said spring means adds its force effect to the other of the spring means when said actuator is moved to the said fourth position to indicate there by such positioning of the actuator.

7. A control switch constructed and arranged in accordance with claim 6 in which the said actuator moves directly from the said first position to said fourth position.

8. A control switch constructed and arranged in accordance with claim 4 in which said actuator moves di rectly from said first position to said fourth position.

9. In a control switch, a body member, a longitudinally extending actuating member slidable in the body member, a sleeve forming a first contact member fixedly positioned on said actuating member, a first pair of spring leaf contact members fixedly positioned on said body member having free ends engaging said first contact sleeve member to make electric circuit therethrough, a second sleeve forming a second contact member slidably positioned on said actuating member and movable relative to said first contact member, said second contact member including an electric conducting sleeve portion and an electric insulating sleeve portion, said electric insulating portion being positioned between said electric conducting portion and said first contact member and including contact means thereon electrically insulated from said conducting portion, a second pair of spring leaf contact members fixedly positioned on said body member having free ends engageable with the respective portions of said second contact member, said actuating member having a first position in said body with said first pair of contact members engaging said first contact member and said second pair of contact members engaging said electric insulating portion of said second contact member and having a second position with said first pair of contact members engaging said contact means on said second contact member and said second pair of contact members engaging said electric conducting portion of said second contact member.

10. In a control switch, a body member, a longitudinally extending actuating member slidable in the body member, a sleeve forming a first contact member fixedly positioned on said actuating member, a first pair of spring leaf contact members fixedly positioned on said body member having free ends engaging said first contact sleeve member to make electric circuit therethrough, a second sleeve forming a second contact member slidably positioned on said actuating member and movable thereon relative to said first contact member, said second contact member including an electric conducting sleeve portion and electric insulating sleeve portion, said electric insulating sleeve being positioned between said electric conducting portion and said first contact member and including contact means thereon electrically insulated from said conducting portion, said actuating member having an electric insulating collar fixed therewith between said first contact sleeve member and said electric insulating sleeve portion of said second contact member, said contact means on said second contact member extending across said collar when said second contact member engages said collar, said actuating member baving a first position in said body with said first pair of contact members engaging said first contact member and said second pair of contact members engaging said electric insulating portion of said second contact member and having a second position with said first pair of contact members engaging said contact means on said second contact member and said second pair of contact members engaging said electric conducting portion of said second contact member and having a third position with said first pair of contact members engaging said first contact member and said contact means on said second contact member and said second pair of contact members engaging said electric conducting portion of said second contact member and having a fourth position with said first pair of contact members engaging said collar and said second pair of contact members engaging said electric insulating portion of said second contact member, said actuating member being movable directly from said first position to said fourth position and thence to said second position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS France Jan. 16, 1956 

